Meet the Artists Rosemary Lyons and Ben Gibson - Crary Art Gallery, Warren
The Crary Art Gallery, in Warren, PA, invites you to meet artists Rosemary Lyons and Ben Gibson at the opening of its newest exhibition this Saturday, October 2, 2021, from 12 -6 p.m., featuring Rosemary Lyons: Alter Pieces, and Ben Gibson: Recent Paintings and Drawings. Both artists will present short talks for guests starting at 2 p.m.
Rosemary Lyons presents a series of 23 carat gold-leafed egg tempera paintings of single flowers on board, inspired by early Medieval altarpieces. Says Lyons, “Flowers are one of the magnificent expressions of nature and seem to me to be joyous to the point of being transcendental.” The artist says she drew great inspiration from collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in its Renaissance Room, and The Cloisters medieval museum, where she was struck by the composition and art forms used. Some of the contrasts of her work include Renaissance book borders coupled with modern day text messages, and she uses actual flowers from her garden as inspiration for the egg tempera paintings she creates on altar shaped backgrounds. Some of Lyons’ works are constructed with gypsum board, and most are on the backs of cigar boxes, and have evocative words embossed onto their surfaces.
Ben Gibson uses botanical forms as his subject matter, exploring color and form of flowers, with an awareness of their symbolism of love, devotion, passion, happiness, and envy, as well as their use in messages of consolation, congratulations and well-being. Gibson says “a flower’s symbolism is of interest to me only as something to re-interpret while drawing or painting its visual form. I am trying to invent visual metaphorical meanings in contrast with the subject’s traditional symbolism.”
Both exhibitions will run through October 31, 2021. The opening day activities include Tabouli Middle Eastern food truck on site, as well as artist talks, Rosemary Lyons at 2:00 and Ben Gibson at 3:00.
The Crary Art Gallery is a private non-profit art museum, located on the corner of 6th Avenue and Market Street in downtown Warren, PA. Exhibition hours, after the opening, are Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 6, and Sundays from 12 to 4. Admission is always free. More information on this and upcoming exhibitions can be found at craryartgallery.com.
